American Minute - John Tyler, 10th U.S. President

American Minute
with
Bill Federer

Tenth President John Tyler was born MARCH 29, 1790.

He was the first Vice-President ever to assume the Presidency when William Henry Harrison died after only one month in office.

To mourn Harrison's death, President John Tyler's first act was to proclaim a National Day of Fasting and Prayer, in which he stated:

"When a Christian people feel themselves to be overtaken by a great public calamity, it becomes them to humble themselves under the dispensation of Divine Providence, to recognize His righteous government over the children of men...and to supplicate His merciful protection for the future."

In his 2nd Annual Message to Congress, December 6, 1842, President John Tyler stated:

"The schoolmaster and the missionary are found side by side." In his 4th Annual Message to Congress, December 3, 1844, President John Tyler stated:

"The guaranty of religious freedom, of the freedom of the press, of the liberty of speech, of the trial by jury, of the habeas corpus...will be enjoyed by millions yet unborn....

Our prayers should evermore be offered up to the Father of the Universe for His wisdom to direct us in the path of our duty so as to enable us to consummate these high purposes."